Sabarimala is one of the most important pilgrim centres of the state. The holy shrine nestles at an altitude of 914 metres in the rugged terrains of Western Ghats. Surrounded by dense forests teeming with exotic wildlife species. It is regarded as the third richest temple in India and considering the number of days it is open in a year, the shrine is perhaps the richest. The temple stays open from Nov to mid-Jan, in April and during the first five days of each month of the Malayalam calendar. Lord Ayyappa, the presiding deity is known as Sastha in the puranas and is also referred as Harihara Puthram, as he is believed to be the son of Mohini (the female form of Lord Vishnu)_ and Lord siva. Devotees of all religious faiths can worship here, but entry to the shrine is restricted for women between the ages of 10 and 50 years. Traditionally, the devotees who wish to undertake a holy pilgrimage to sabarimalsa observe 41days of penance, following strict celibacy, morning and evening ablutions, growing if beard accompanied by daily prayers. The final 18 steps leading to the main sanctum are sheathed in apnchaloha, an alloy of five metals. Each step represents a sin that a devotee renounces on setting a foot on it. Millions of pilgrims assemble here during the most arduous festivals called as 'Vishu vilakku' in april, 'Mandalapooja', in the months of vrichikam dhanu (Nov-Dec) and 'Makaravilakku' in mid Jan, coinciding with sankramam.

The Sabarimala shrine is only open a few times each year: the Mandalam festival covering 41 days from November 15 to December 26; the Makaravilakku from January 1-14; on Vishu, the day of the vernal equinox in April; and during smaller festivals in May/June and August/September. The shrine, unlike many in southern India is open to persons of all religious callings, and there are no caste restrictions during the pilgrimage. However, women - unless they are younger than six or older than sixty - are not allowed to come to Sabarimala. This is explained by referring to the celibacy of Ayappa and the concern that he might be lured away from his shrine by a woman his age (if certain readers find this somewhat sexist, they are informed that there are particular goddess shrines in south India which men are forbidden to enter). It is said that during the pilgrimage periods no tigers are found along the forest trails leading to Sabarimala. This is explained as resulting from Ayappa's power over tigers. Other holy places associated with Ayappa are Kulattupuzha, Aryankavu, Accankovil, and Kantamala. Additional notes on Sabarimala and Ayappa